mite counts- how much is to much

[irekkin]

i have heard it said " don't treat for mites unless you have to". my question is, at what point do you have to. how high does your mite count get before you treat. i've got five hives and during a twelve hour time period there's a drop rate of between zero and ten across all five hives. the hive with the ten count had beau coup mites in the drone brood, two or three per cell, so i definately plan on treating them (thymol).what do you folks think?

[WayneW]

Dont know how strongly u feel ablut using chemical treatments, but once noticed, i would do something to knock down counts (even if minimal). All i use is powdered sugar for dusting. It will knock down the counts on at least the bees you dust. Effiveness is a huge debate, if i remember Robo doesnt believe sugar helps much if any, because you cant dust capped drones, which is the VM's favorite hiding, feeding and breeding spot.

If i haddent fallen ill eariler this season, i would likely have tried oxalic vapor, even though myself, dont believe in using chemicals. It was going to be a last ditch effort to gave a GREAT  hive!

You kind of have to decide for yourself if/how/and what you treat with.

BUt then, im sure there will be plenty of advice :) Always is here, that's why i love this place.

Good luck, and dont let the mites get ahead of you and weaken a strong hive just before winter.